Success Stories
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Many public agencies, private companies, and commercial landscapers across the country successfully use environmentally beneficial landscaping techniques. Check out their success stories below:
Agriculture
Recycling Plastics from Landscaping and Agriculture Industries | PDF
Version (1 pg, 172K)
Agri-Plas, Inc., an agricultural plastic recycler in Oregon, processes
tons of discarded plastics from the agricultural and nursery industries
each year. The company collects trays, pots, and greenhouse films from
about 100 nearby nurseries and picks up baling twine and plastic agricultural
chemical containers from local farmers and growers. Agri-Plas provides
the recovered plastic to end users that make new products for the nursery
and automotive industries.
![truck spreading compost](images/compostsm.jpg)
Using
Compost on Vineyards | PDF
Version (2 pp, 175K)
When a local vineyard contacted Jepson Prairie Organics for compost, the
composting facility saw an opportunity to connect San Francisco with local
vineyards. Organics are collected from San Francisco restaurants, composted,
and used by vineyards. The use of local food scraps provides several benefits:
not only do the vineyards realize savings of $5 - $10 per yard, but diners
can order wine at these restaurants and effectively "close the loop."
Commercial Sites
Benefits
of Native Landscaping | PDF
Version (2 pp, 121K)
Imagine a commercial landscape that never needs fertilizer, pesticides,
extensive watering, or mowing. With WinterCreek Restoration's native landscaping,
the Century Park retail complex in central Oregon is nearly maintenance-freeand
water, installation, and maintenance costs are significantly less expensive
than traditional projects of a similar size.
Innovative
Landscaping Techniques at Two EPA Facilities | PDF
Version (2 pp, 192K)
At two EPA facilities, innovative landscaping techniques conserve water
while helping the facilities meet federal environmental goals. Sustainable
landscaping at EPA's National Computer Center in Research Triangle Park,
North Carolina, and EPA Region 8's laboratory in Golden, Colorado, reduce
the need for irrigation by using water-efficient designs and native plants
suited to local conditions.
![Photo of Jungle River at Parrot Jungle Island](images/pji-riversm.jpg)
Parrot
Jungle Island's Holistic Approach to Landscape Site Development
| PDF
Version (2 pp, 191K)
Summer 2006 marked the second anniversary of Parrot Jungle Island's environmentally
sustainable landscaping project. The 18-acre park, located just south
of Miami, Florida, completed an extensive four-year building plan, including
elevation, vegetation, horticultural, irrigation, and cultivation changes.
In the process, this GreenScapes Partner has shown that a holistic approach
to landscape site development can be successful, cost-effective, and environmentally
sound.
Golf Courses
Improving
Turf with Compost | PDF
Version (2 pp, 121K)
The soil on the North Shore Country Club (Glenview, Illinois) golf course
had elevated sodium levelstoo high to maintain quality turf. Standard
procedure called for the installation of a well, but this project came
with a quarter million dollar price tag. With a little research, North
Shore found compost to be the economical alternative to enhance the quality
of its soil.
Parks and Recreation
![demolition debris](images/aspensm.jpg)
Reusing
Deconstruction Material | PDF
Version (1 pg, 171K)
When it was time for the Aspen Skiing Company to take down 2 buildings,
the company chose to use deconstruction rather than demolition.
By deconstructing, the company took the buildings apart and removed
useable items. With only a little additional effort, Aspen found
an alternative to sending all of their C & D waste to the landfill
and saved more than $42,000 in avoided disposal costs on just one
building.
Building
a Recycled Plastic Bobsled Track | PDF
Version(1 pg, 171K)
What better use for one million milk jugs and detergent bottles than creating
a bobsled track? In the first application of plastic lumber specifically
designed for a commercial structure, the Olympic Regional Development
Authority created three staging platforms for the Lake Placid, New York
bobsled track in preparation for the 2000 Winter Goodwill Games.
Queens
Botanical Garden Uses Innovative Methods to Promote Sustainable Design
| PDF
Version (2 pp, 196K)
It's getting a lot greener in Queens! Though surrounded by the concrete
jungles of New York City, Queens Botanical Garden merges new technology
with natural elements to reduce the environmental footprint of its newest
buildings.
Recycling
Tires into Park Equipment | PDF
Version (2 pp, 174K)
Plagued by 10 million waste tires a year, Los Angeles county has saved
landfill space by using recycled rubber in paths, playgrounds, and under
structures throughout its district.
Incorporating
Plastic Lumber in Parks | PDF
Version (1 pg, 173K)
State parks in Indiana and Minnesota have realized the long-term benefits
of using recycled plastic lumber as a construction material, replacing
wood throughout the parks in projects ranging from viewing platforms and
bridges to tables and benches.
Roads and Highways
![erosion control at highway project site using compost blanket](images/gcathumb4.jpg)
Erosion
Control Through Revegetation | PDF
Version (2 pp, 121K)
GreenCover America, Inc. has succeeded in keeping the highway open.
The company's organic and environmentally friendly compost-based
erosion control techniques have stabilized a steep, sandy slope
where traditional erosion control methods had previously failed.
Within months of installing a compost blanket, the site was covered
Controlling
Erosion with Compost | PDF
Version (1 pg, 169K)
Filtrexx International LLC, has created a toolbox of erosion control methods
utilizing compost. A great environmentally preferable product, compost
is organic, biobased, annually renewable, recycled, and locally made.
In addition, using compost to control erosion can be cheaper and more
aesthetically pleasing than traditional methods. Compost is a lot more
than just a fertilizer!
Roadside
Composting | PDF
Version (2 pp, 175K)
Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has found that virtually barren
roadsides became fertile grounds when compost was applied. This helped
prevent the erosion of roads and surrounding grounds in many locations,
and TxDOT has gone on a tour throughout the state to prove it!
Bridge
Rehabilitation Through Reuse | PDF
Version (1 pg, 173K)
Maine's Department of Transportation saved $8.7 million by constructing
a rural bridge from trash! 170,000 previously used shredded tires20
percent of the waste tires generated in Maine in a yearwere used
in this project to support the roadbed, along with old bridge railings,
roadside guard rails, and geotextiles.
Constructing
a Milk Jug Bridge | PDF
Version (1 pg, 100K)
The first bridge made entirely from recycled plastic has been constructed
in New Jersey, capable of supporting 36,000 pounds. The super-strong plastic
from which it is composed is formed through a new technique that combines
multiple plastic polymers and results in plastic with enough strength
and durability to be used as bridge I-beams, railroad ties, and much more.
If you are interested in learning more about membership, visit the GreenScapes Partnership Program.